Nick Cave back for the first time in 12 years

Nick Cave

When a band gets to the stage of releasing that B-sides and rarities album it's usually time to write them off. But when it's Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds it's a cause for celebration.

And for local fans of the dark rock institution which first emerged in the early 80s after Cave's time in the Birthday Party, it's time to rejoice, because Nick and the boys are touring New Zealand for the first time in 12 years.

The Auckland and Wellington dates are in support of last year's double, Abattoir Blues/The Lyre Of Orpheus, the band's 13th studio album.

But a 56-track, three-CD, retrospective album of rare songs and B-sides is also on the way. It covers the 21 years the Bad Seeds have been together and includes tracks like The Six Strings That Drew Blood, The Girl At The Bottom Of My Glass, Little Empty Boat, Bluebird and The Ballad Of Robert Moore & Betty Coltrane. The lineup for the live shows includes the eight Bad Seeds members and four gospel singers.

Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds play the Wellington Town Hall on Thursday, May 12, and the St James in Auckland the following night.

Tickets go on sale on Monday.

Also on the way are Idlewild, the acclaimed Edinburgh band who had the next-big-thing treatment in Britain a few years back and are now being hailed as "the new REM" on their new and fourth album Warning/Promises.

They play the Transmission Room in Auckland on Friday, June 3, with support from the Sneaks. Tickets now on sale.

And rumoured to be making a return for shows in May is piano-tinkling singer-songwriter Tori Amos.